mpderksen
New member
The list is too long to cover all the things I've learned here, but tonight I got a rude awakening.
I had put together, and cycled a 10gallon tank for my neighbor's daughter for her birthday. They had a FW tank and she wanted a Nano after seeing my 75 when she came over. No problem. Her parents gave me the cash, and I let it cycle for a month on my desk, then added a small CUC etc. all the basic stuff. Last weekend they brought over 2 small Domino damsels. One lasted for about a day or two. The other was active and eating. I figured it was just one of those things. I tested everything and it all seemed fine.
Yesterday, we mostly drained it, moved it to her room and set it up. Today, dead Damsel! Crud-monkeys!!!
So the dad asked me why the salt was so high on his new float tester. He brought it over. We tested the water in mine, and sure enough, my tester read 1.025 (perfect), but his said 1.029!
My little Instant Ocean tester is probably 10 years old, and it just figured it was "close enough". But in spite of pretty much everyone here saying that a refractometer was an essential tool, I just had been chugging along with the way I'd always done it.
Just now I ordered a real refractometer. Cost me less than some of the fish I've lost. I don't know the true salinity at this point, but if it truly is 1.029, I can only imagine the stress and potential losses this has created.
The lesson: if a few hundred tanks are successful by doing something one way, take a look at why I'm doing something different.
Another small example is using the API tester for PO4. Yet I have GHA. So I bought a HANNA checker, and no surprise, the PO4 is actually 0.06. Same lesson learned. I'm now looking over all the arrogant attitudes I've stubbornly held to, rather than respecting the advice I read every day.
(Yes, my purchase of a Volitan is probably gonna be next on the list....)
Am I alone in this? Or have you had a blockhead moment yourself?
Michael
I had put together, and cycled a 10gallon tank for my neighbor's daughter for her birthday. They had a FW tank and she wanted a Nano after seeing my 75 when she came over. No problem. Her parents gave me the cash, and I let it cycle for a month on my desk, then added a small CUC etc. all the basic stuff. Last weekend they brought over 2 small Domino damsels. One lasted for about a day or two. The other was active and eating. I figured it was just one of those things. I tested everything and it all seemed fine.
Yesterday, we mostly drained it, moved it to her room and set it up. Today, dead Damsel! Crud-monkeys!!!
So the dad asked me why the salt was so high on his new float tester. He brought it over. We tested the water in mine, and sure enough, my tester read 1.025 (perfect), but his said 1.029!
My little Instant Ocean tester is probably 10 years old, and it just figured it was "close enough". But in spite of pretty much everyone here saying that a refractometer was an essential tool, I just had been chugging along with the way I'd always done it.
Just now I ordered a real refractometer. Cost me less than some of the fish I've lost. I don't know the true salinity at this point, but if it truly is 1.029, I can only imagine the stress and potential losses this has created.
The lesson: if a few hundred tanks are successful by doing something one way, take a look at why I'm doing something different.
Another small example is using the API tester for PO4. Yet I have GHA. So I bought a HANNA checker, and no surprise, the PO4 is actually 0.06. Same lesson learned. I'm now looking over all the arrogant attitudes I've stubbornly held to, rather than respecting the advice I read every day.
(Yes, my purchase of a Volitan is probably gonna be next on the list....)
Am I alone in this? Or have you had a blockhead moment yourself?
Michael